The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-13
a STRANGE MAN.

The speaker was Mr.. Jones, the
editor Of the Clarion, who was show
ing me the points of interest in the
Hourishing town of Jingo.
| had missed connection with the
western train. and was compelled to
walt several hours before resuming
my journey. 1t was relief to meet
Jones in that strange place. AL
though we had never been very in
|timate, our business relations, ex-
tending through many years, had
Ibeen very pleasant and satisfactory.
h So when Jones pointed out the
mayor of his town 1 was prepared
I'd say something complimentary.
But my first careless glancea Col.
Hayes was followed by an intense
scrutiny.
The mayor was man of perhaps
fifty, but he looked older. He was
tall and thin, but his appearance in
dicated great activity and strength.
His ruddy face and keen black eyes
contrasted strangely with his white
hair and mustache. 1t was easy to
see that he was man of energy. and
his square chin gave him determin-
ed, bulldog look.
lis it possible !" 1 thoughtlessly
exclaimed.
Jones must have read my tell-tale
face. for he drew me intoa quiet back
street.
"You know him." he said. "You
have seen him before? ?"
ut is the most remarkable thing
in the world" 1 said in my unguard.
ed excitement. "The last time l saw
that man was fifteen years ago in a
mining camp in California. He had
been arrested for stealing horse,
and the miners were going to Lynch
him. In some way he made his es.
cape, and as all efforts to trace him
failed, it was believed he had met his
death in the woods"
"You are sure that he is the man
81 never forget a face," I replied
"Your mayor is the horse-thief o.
Piedras Camp"
Fifteen years ago." said Jones
meditatively. Eyes, that fits the
case. He was away four or FIVE year.
and his wife and baby had a rather
hard time of it. When he came
back he had plenty of money. He
went into business and prospered
and now he is the mayor of lingo. Il
is all right. Yes, it is all right! I!
1 did not like the way he gritted
his teeth. The genial smile had faded
away, and the man had a sullen
threatening look.
"You must not mention this"
said. 1--WE led rough life in the
mines. If Hayes has been goot
citizen since he came home, the bes
way is to say nothing aboutit. Don't
dig up mans dead past"
"Oh, don't be uneasy" my frient
answered, with laugh. II am no
courting danger, and it would be dan
gorous to tackle Hayes. But yor
have just time to make your train
You must run for it,"
This knocked everything else ou
of my head. and with a hasty fare
we'll l made for the station, reaching
it just in time to board the last car al
it was moving off.
Three days later the Herald con
tanned a bloodcurdling account of th'
murder of Editor Jones, at Jingo.
The story filled a column, but th'
facts could have been summed up il
half a dozen lines. Jones had beer
stabbed through the heart while sit
ting in his Office late at night. Moth
ing of value was missing. and ther'
was no clew to the perpetrator of tn,
deed.
AS The paper slipped through my
nerveless fingers the face of the may
or of Jingo loomed up before me.
The thought occurred to me tina
Jones must have abused my conf
dence. In some way he had le
Hayes know that he had unveiled
his past life, and the mayor had as
sasinated him.
AS / pondered over the affair thi
theory grew into conviction. 1 fel
sense of guilty responsibility. VIII!
had blabbed about the matter at all
What business was it of mine? In
rattle-brained way had told a cur
ious. sensational-loving village news
paper man a secret that was calcula
ted to blast Hayes's reputation, ant
drag him and and his family dowl
into the depths of humiliation ant
disgrace.
When the train rolled into Jingt
at 10 o'clock that night l was one o
the passengers. / had found it i'm